Houston Texans general manager Rick Smith, left, and head coach Bill O'Brien talk about the Texans' selection of quarterback Deshaun Watson, of Clemson, in the NFL Draft at NRG Stadium on Thursday, April 27,

“It’s like a slap in the face, to be honest,” Watson told Josina Anderson of ESPN about possibly not being the first quarterback taken. “You see all the things I’ve accomplished, it’s a long list, and they want to talk about the little negatives I have and bring somebody else up? It’s a little disrespectful.”

Watson was No. 4 throughout high school. At Clemson, that number was retired in honor of quarterback Steve Fuller, who allowed Clemson to take it out of retirement so Watson could wear it. The last Texans player to wear No. 4 is kicker Randy Bullock. Quarterback flop Dave Ragone also wore No. 4 for the Texans, so it hasn’t been a particularly lucky number for the franchise.

Watson graduated from Clemson in three years and his college coaches rave about his note-taking ability in meetings. His college coaches say he’s a student of the game, who is always studying game film.

The quarterbacks Watson compares most favorably to are Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota and Dak Prescott based off his accuracy and his mobility.

Comparison

The quarterbacks Watson compares most favorably to are Tennessee’s Marcus Mariota and Dak Prescott based off his accuracy and his mobility.

Photo: Joel Auerbach, Contributor

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Remembers where he came from

On the lining of his jacket at the NFL Draft, Watson had a reference to his hometown. The 815 on the lining is a nod to 815 Harrison Square in Gainesville, Ga., his address when he and his family lived in the projects. Memo is a hashtag he's used frequently on Twitter and Instagram, and it is a bit of a motto of his - as in, he hopes people get the memo about his talent. Or as Drake said in Trophies ... "Did y'all boys not get the memo?"

There’s no doubt the three best quarterbacks in the draft were Deshaun Watson, North Carolina’s Mitchell Trubisky and Texas Tech’s Patrick Mahomes. Watson went third, but he’s the most polished of the three and the most ready to start Week 1.

Watson went 32-3 as a starter in three years at Clemson. His only losses were a 43-42 loss to Pittsburgh last season, a 45-40 loss to Alabama in the 2016 national championship game and a lost to Georgia Tech as a true freshman. Oh yeah, he also won a national championship.

Watson went 32-3 as a starter in three years at Clemson. His only losses were a 43-42 loss to Pittsburgh last season, a 45-40 loss to Alabama in the 2016 national championship game and a lost to Georgia

Watson played in the spread and out of the shotgun at Clemson, so he’ll need to adjust to the Texans’ offense.

Need to adjust to playing under center

Watson played in the spread and out of the shotgun at Clemson, so he’ll need to adjust to the Texans’ offense.

Photo: Matthew Stockman, Staff

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Tough guy

As a freshman, he tweaked his knee against Georgia Tech and missed the rest of the game. Watson came back and played the next two games against Georgia State and rival South Carolina. After the South Carolina game, it was revealed that Watson actually had a torn ACL and played through it. He underwent ACL surgery before Clemson’s bowl game against Oklahoma and was ready to play by the start of his sophomore season.

Watson is only 21 years old and won’t turn 22 until Week 2 of the season (on the same day the Texans play at Cincinnat on Thursday Night Football). Last year, no quarterback younger than 22 started a game in the NFL.

He has good presence in the pocket and doesn’t panic when it starts to collapse. He uses his mobility when he needs to, but he’s shown a willingness to hang in and deliver the pass knowing he will get hit.

To move up to No. 12, the Texans gave the Browns the 25th pick this year and next year’s first-round pick.

What the Texans gave up

To move up to No. 12, the Texans gave the Browns the 25th pick this year and next year’s first-round pick.

Photo: Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle

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Clutch gene

Watson was at his best in big games. Everyone remembers his 420-yard, three-touchdown performance in the national title win over Alabama, but he had several other big games. In last year’s ACC championship game, he passed for 288 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 85 yards and two scores in a win over Virginia Tech. In the loss to Alabama in the 2016 title game, he threw for 405 yards and four touchdowns.

Watson has been in the spotlight ever since he got to Clemson as a five-star recruit. He’s been plotting his NFL move, even graduating early knowing that he’d leave Clemson after three years.

Ready for this

Watson has been in the spotlight ever since he got to Clemson as a five-star recruit. He’s been plotting his NFL move, even graduating early knowing that he’d leave Clemson after three years.

Photo: Mike Ehrmann, Getty Images

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Worked under center to prepare for the NFL

Even though Clemson ran about 95 percent of their plays out of the shotgun, Clemson quarterbacks coach Brandon Streeter said Deshaun Watson practiced playing under center every day after practice, “just to develop those habits and basic footwork working from center. He tells me all the time he loves getting under center.”

As the No. 12 pick, Watson will sign a fully guaranteed four-year $13.9 million rookie contract that will include an $8.26 million signing bonus and a standard fifth-year team option.

Getting paid

As the No. 12 pick, Watson will sign a fully guaranteed four-year $13.9 million rookie contract that will include an $8.26 million signing bonus and a standard fifth-year team option.

Photo: Chris O'Meara, STF

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Record-setting recruit in high school

Watson started all four years in high school in Gainesville, Ga. He set Georgia state records with 17,134 career total yards, 13,077 career passing yards and 218 career touchdowns. Watson was ranked the No. 1 QB recruit in the Class of 2014 by ESPN, and was recruited by the likes of Alabama, Auburn, Florida State, Georgia, LSU, Ohio State and USC before he decided on Clemson.

As a former Clemson player, Hopkins is a big fan of Deshaun Watson. Although he's said nothing but good things about Texans' quarterback Tom Savage, Hopkins said nice things about Watson just last week. "I'm a Clemson guy, so I'm a little biased," he said. "Wherever he goes, he'll do fine. I haven't talked to him, but I'm pretty sure he'd like to throw me the ball."

Warren Moon - the greatest quarterback in the history of Houston professional football - wholeheartedly supports Deshaun Watson.

Endorsement of a Hall of Famer

Warren Moon - the greatest quarterback in the history of Houston professional football - wholeheartedly supports Deshaun Watson.

Photo: Twitter

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NFL Draft: What Texans need to do Friday

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WHAT TEXANS DID THURSDAY

General manager Rick Smith traded up to get quarterback Deshaun Watson. Giving up a first-round pick in 2018 to move from 25 to 12 will turn out to be a small price to pay if Watson can come close to duplicating in the NFL what he did at Clemson, where he led the Tigers to the national title last season. Coach Bill O'Brien will be in no rush to play Watson, who'll watch and learn behind Tom Savage and Brandon Weeden until he's ready to play.

WHAT TEXANS NEED TO DO FRIDAY

In the second and third rounds, the Texans have different needs to fill. Their biggest need is a right tackle. Two offensive linemen projected to go in the first round – Alabama's Cam Robinson and Western Kentucky's Forrest Lamp – will be available but probably will be long gone by the time the Texans make their pick. They also have needs at cornerback, safety and outside linebacker. They should be able to fill two needs with their picks in the second and third rounds. They have two selections in Saturday's fourth round.